diff --git a/drivers/cc110x/cc110x.c b/drivers/cc110x/cc110x.c
index 8c96111877..a175845831 100644
--- a/drivers/cc110x/cc110x.c
+++ b/drivers/cc110x/cc110x.c
@@ -89,6 +89,13 @@ int cc110x_apply_config(cc110x_t *dev, const cc110x_config_t *conf,
     return cc110x_full_calibration(dev);
 }
 
+static void _set_tx_power(cc110x_t *dev, cc110x_tx_power_t power)
+{
+    uint8_t frend0 = 0x10 | (uint8_t)power;
+    cc110x_write(dev, CC110X_REG_FREND0, frend0);
+    dev->tx_power = power;
+}
+
 int cc110x_set_tx_power(cc110x_t *dev, cc110x_tx_power_t power)
 {
     DEBUG("[cc110x] Applying TX power setting at index %u\n", (unsigned)power);
@@ -114,9 +121,8 @@ int cc110x_set_tx_power(cc110x_t *dev, cc110x_tx_power_t power)
             return -EAGAIN;
     }
 
-    uint8_t frend0 = 0x10 | (uint8_t)power;
-    cc110x_write(dev, CC110X_REG_FREND0, frend0);
-    dev->tx_power = power;
+    _set_tx_power(dev, power);
+
     cc110x_release(dev);
     return 0;
 }
@@ -176,3 +182,47 @@ int cc110x_set_channel(cc110x_t *dev, uint8_t channel)
     dev->netdev.event_callback(&dev->netdev, NETDEV_EVENT_FHSS_CHANGE_CHANNEL);
     return 0;
 }
+
+int cc110x_wakeup(cc110x_t *dev)
+{
+    int err = cc110x_power_on_and_acquire(dev);
+
+    if (err) {
+        return err;
+    }
+
+    /* PA_TABLE is lost on SLEEP, see 10.6 in the CC1101 data sheet */
+    cc110x_burst_write(dev, CC110X_MULTIREG_PATABLE,
+                       dev->params.patable->data, CC110X_PATABLE_LEN);
+    _set_tx_power(dev, dev->tx_power);
+
+    cc110x_enter_rx_mode(dev);
+    cc110x_release(dev);
+    return 0;
+}
+
+void cc110x_sleep(cc110x_t *dev)
+{
+    cc110x_acquire(dev);
+    if (dev->state == CC110X_STATE_OFF) {
+        cc110x_release(dev);
+        return;
+    }
+
+    /*
+     * Datasheet page 9 table 4.
+     *
+     * To achieve the lowest power consumption GDO's must
+     * be programmed to 0x2F
+     */
+    cc110x_write(dev, CC110X_REG_IOCFG2, CC110X_GDO_CONSTANT_LOW);
+    cc110x_write(dev, CC110X_REG_IOCFG1, CC110X_GDO_CONSTANT_LOW);
+    cc110x_write(dev, CC110X_REG_IOCFG0, CC110X_GDO_CONSTANT_LOW);
+
+    /* transition to SLEEP only from state IDLE possible */
+    cc110x_cmd(dev, CC110X_STROBE_IDLE);
+    /* go to SLEEP */
+    cc110x_cmd(dev, CC110X_STROBE_OFF);
+    dev->state = CC110X_STATE_OFF;
+    cc110x_release(dev);
+}
diff --git a/drivers/cc110x/cc110x_communication.c b/drivers/cc110x/cc110x_communication.c
index 7afac9c9e9..86ae38d1d6 100644
--- a/drivers/cc110x/cc110x_communication.c
+++ b/drivers/cc110x/cc110x_communication.c
@@ -18,13 +18,16 @@
  */
 
 #include <errno.h>
+
+#include "cc110x.h"
+#include "cc110x_communication.h"
+#include "cc110x_constants.h"
+#include "cc110x_internal.h"
 #include "periph/gpio.h"
 #include "periph/spi.h"
 #include "xtimer.h"
-#include "cc110x.h"
-#include "cc110x_constants.h"
 
-int cc110x_power_on(cc110x_t *dev)
+int cc110x_power_on_and_acquire(cc110x_t *dev)
 {
     gpio_t cs = dev->params.cs;
 
@@ -32,9 +35,19 @@ int cc110x_power_on(cc110x_t *dev)
         return -EIO;
     }
     gpio_clear(cs);
-    xtimer_usleep(150);
+    xtimer_usleep(CC110X_WAKEUP_TIME_US);
     gpio_set(cs);
     spi_init_cs(dev->params.spi, dev->params.cs);
+
+    if (cc110x_acquire(dev) != SPI_OK) {
+        return -EIO;
+    }
+
+    while (cc110x_state_from_status(cc110x_status(dev)) != CC110X_STATE_IDLE) {
+        cc110x_cmd(dev, CC110X_STROBE_IDLE);
+        xtimer_usleep(CC110X_WAKEUP_TIME_US);
+    }
+
     return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/drivers/cc110x/cc110x_netdev.c b/drivers/cc110x/cc110x_netdev.c
index e56753358e..b66cd763ef 100644
--- a/drivers/cc110x/cc110x_netdev.c
+++ b/drivers/cc110x/cc110x_netdev.c
@@ -248,37 +248,25 @@ static int cc110x_init(netdev_t *netdev)
     /* Make sure the crystal is stable and the chip ready. This is needed as
      * the reset is done via an SPI command, but the SPI interface must not be
      * used unless the chip is ready according to the data sheet. After the
-     * reset, a second call to cc110x_power_on() is needed to finally have
+     * reset, a second call to cc110x_power_on_and_acquire() is needed to finally have
      * the transceiver in a known state and ready for SPI communication.
      */
-    if (cc110x_power_on(dev)) {
+    if (cc110x_power_on_and_acquire(dev)) {
         DEBUG("[cc110x] netdev_driver_t::init(): Failed to pull CS pin low\n");
         return -EIO;
     }
 
-    if (cc110x_acquire(dev) != SPI_OK) {
-        DEBUG("[cc110x] netdev_driver_t::init(): Failed to setup/acquire SPI "
-              "interface\n");
-        return -EIO;
-    }
-
     /* Performing a reset of the transceiver to get it in a known state */
     cc110x_cmd(dev, CC110X_STROBE_RESET);
     cc110x_release(dev);
 
     /* Again, make sure the crystal is stable and the chip ready */
-    if (cc110x_power_on(dev)) {
+    if (cc110x_power_on_and_acquire(dev)) {
         DEBUG("[cc110x] netdev_driver_t::init(): Failed to pull CS pin low "
               "after reset\n");
         return -EIO;
     }
 
-    if (cc110x_acquire(dev) != SPI_OK) {
-        DEBUG("[cc110x] netdev_driver_t::init(): Failed to setup/acquire SPI "
-              "interface after reset\n");
-        return -EIO;
-    }
-
     if (identify_device(dev)) {
         DEBUG("[cc110x] netdev_driver_t::init(): Device identification failed\n");
         cc110x_release(dev);
@@ -417,20 +405,23 @@ static int cc110x_send(netdev_t *netdev, const iolist_t *iolist)
     }
 
     switch (dev->state) {
-        case CC110X_STATE_FSTXON:
-            /* falls through */
-        case CC110X_STATE_RX_MODE:
-            break;
-        case CC110X_STATE_RECEIVING:
-            cc110x_release(dev);
-            DEBUG("[cc110x] netdev_driver_t::send(): Refusing to send while "
-                  "receiving a frame\n");
-            return -EBUSY;
-        default:
-            cc110x_release(dev);
-            DEBUG("[cc110x] netdev_driver_t::send(): Driver state %i prevents "
-                  "sending\n", (int)dev->state);
-            return -1;
+    case CC110X_STATE_FSTXON:
+        /* falls through */
+    case CC110X_STATE_RX_MODE:
+        break;
+    case CC110X_STATE_RECEIVING:
+        cc110x_release(dev);
+        DEBUG("[cc110x] netdev_driver_t::send(): Refusing to send while "
+              "receiving a frame\n");
+        return -EBUSY;
+    case CC110X_STATE_OFF:
+        cc110x_release(dev);
+        return -ENOTSUP;
+    default:
+        cc110x_release(dev);
+        DEBUG("[cc110x] netdev_driver_t::send(): Driver state %i prevents "
+              "sending\n", (int)dev->state);
+        return -1;
     }
 
     /* Copy data to send into frame buffer */
diff --git a/drivers/cc110x/include/cc110x_communication.h b/drivers/cc110x/include/cc110x_communication.h
index 02e254bd7b..5d159c2064 100644
--- a/drivers/cc110x/include/cc110x_communication.h
+++ b/drivers/cc110x/include/cc110x_communication.h
@@ -35,8 +35,9 @@ extern "C" {
  * @retval  SPI_NOMODE  SPI mode 0 not supported by MCU
  * @retval  SPI_NOCLK   SPI clock given in @ref cc110x_params_t is not supported
  *
- * @pre     @ref cc110x_power_on has be called before calling this function.
- *          (Only needed *once* when the driver initializes.)
+ * @pre     When first acquiring the device either after boot or after having put
+ *          the device to sleep mode, use @ref cc110x_power_on_and_acquire
+ *          instead. Subsequently, this function should be used (it is faster).
  */
 static inline int cc110x_acquire(cc110x_t *dev)
 {
@@ -200,10 +201,13 @@ uint8_t cc110x_status(cc110x_t *dev);
  * of messing with the SPI interface, this driver simply waits for this upper
  * bound, as suggested in the note below Table 22 on page 30 in the data sheet.
  *
+ * @pre     The device was not acquired and in low power mode
+ * @post    The device is in IDLE mode and acquired
+ *
  * @retval  0       Success
  * @retval  -EIO    Couldn't pull the CS pin down (@ref cc110x_params_t::cs)
  */
-int cc110x_power_on(cc110x_t *dev);
+int cc110x_power_on_and_acquire(cc110x_t *dev);
 
 
 #ifdef __cplusplus
diff --git a/drivers/cc110x/include/cc110x_constants.h b/drivers/cc110x/include/cc110x_constants.h
index 45e5280183..ce4a49062c 100644
--- a/drivers/cc110x/include/cc110x_constants.h
+++ b/drivers/cc110x/include/cc110x_constants.h
@@ -570,6 +570,11 @@ extern "C" {
 #define CC110X_PKTCTRL1_GET_ADDR_MODE   0x03
 /** @} */
 
+/**
+ * @brief   Time in micro seconds the CC110X takes to wake up from SLEEP state
+ */
+#define CC110X_WAKEUP_TIME_US           150
+
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 }
 #endif
diff --git a/drivers/include/cc110x.h b/drivers/include/cc110x.h
index 845b279c0a..64f602e413 100644
--- a/drivers/include/cc110x.h
+++ b/drivers/include/cc110x.h
@@ -269,7 +269,7 @@ typedef enum {
      */
     CC110X_STATE_FRAME_READY        = 0x08,
     /**
-     * @brief   Frame received, waiting for upper layer to retrieve it
+     * @brief   Devices is powered down
      *
      * Transceiver is in SLEEP state. There is no matching representation in the
      * status byte, as reading the status byte will power up the transceiver in
@@ -644,6 +644,21 @@ int cc110x_set_channel(cc110x_t *dev, uint8_t channel);
  */
 int cc110x_set_tx_power(cc110x_t *dev, cc110x_tx_power_t power);
 
+/**
+ * @brief   Wakes the transceiver from SLEEP mode and enters RX mode
+ *
+ * @retval  0       Success
+ * @retval  -EIO    Communication with the transceiver failed
+ */
+int cc110x_wakeup(cc110x_t *dev);
+
+/**
+ * @brief   Sets the transceiver into SLEEP mode.
+ *
+ * Only @ref cc110x_wakeup can awake the device again.
+ */
+void cc110x_sleep(cc110x_t *dev);
+
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 }
 #endif